Bbteer construction



Nov. 13 ,19.23.. 1,474,273

G. A. LYON BUFFER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 21, 1923 l i3 /51 /73/6v "QQ wir *9 5 what Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BUFFER CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed April 2l,

To o7/Z whom it may concer/21,.'

Be it known that l, (leonor ,leerer LYON, a citizen of the United fv'tat o, and resident ol hiladelphia, ctainty oA Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have niade a certain new and uset'ul Invention lelating` to Bul 'ter Constructions, of which the tollowing is a specification, talzen in coiniection with the accoinpanying` drawing, which forms part of the saine. This appli-cation is partial continuation oli' iny cogen/ding` application, Serial No 632,076, led April lil, 1923, and contains subject matter taken therefrom.

rlhis invention relates to automobile bui:- fers or bumpers in which one or more of 'the bulter front elements in-ay advantageously be torined of relatively wide thin strip such as spring steel. one and three-quarters to two and a half inches wide and one-quarter to three-eighths of an inch thick inore or less, which may be recurved or otherwise termed as by being,` diagonally 'folded 'to forni a transversely extendingconnector portion and integrally connected transversely separated strip ineinbers which inay b e oppositely in clined adjacent the connector portion and extend in the saine or opposite directions therefrom. Such a bader elernent inay be advantageously used at the lateral ends of the butler adjacent the auton'iobile wheels and in such cases the transverse connector portion may have its diagonal folds arranged at substantially right angles to each other so that two transversely separated strips extend horizontally inward trein this connector portion to torni a double height or double sirio butter eleiient which may extend inward to or past the center of the butter` ii" desired, and be adjustably or otherH wise joined in overlapping' reenliorcingr p0sition with similar horizontal strip rneinbers which are joined by a transverse diagonally 'folded connector portieri at the other side 0r end oi' the buffer. Such a buffer front inay be supported in any desired way and a spring` steel strip supporting' attaching member, niay be arranged to be connected to the two iran'ie ends 'and have forwardly extending connecting?,` portions secured to vthese butler front strip nienibers on each side of the center et the butter iront and within a foot or so ol the butler ends so that these transverse connector portions at the buffer ends are not subjected to excessive strains which are largely transferred Yfrein each ot the iront strips directly to the connected bulier sup 3.923. Serial No` 633,600.

porting` member which is considerably wider than the vertical separation between the .iront strips. ln sonic cases the connector member inay be bent round in incre or less conical torni which, when the recnrvcd end of the element is bent backward considerably out of line with the connected transversely separated strips or ii'ieinbers, brings them nearly or entirely into vertical alignment, ii,t desired, throughout the body of the front element, although 'for a distance adjacent the connector portion they ni ay ie eppositely inclined. This conical bent connector portion may o1" course be Vflattened in some cases to torni a tunnel shaped bend at the reciirved end of the strip element which gives a rnore compact construction. ln seine cases, however, where the recurved end is not bent so far back out of line with the connected front strips, the inclination of the conical bent end need not be so great and this arranges the adjacent oppositely bent strips at a correspondingly greater inclination to each other, so that their adjacent inner portions should be oppositely twisted it they are to be brought nearly or entirely into vertical or transverse alignment with each other. These double strip bufier eleinents may be readily finished since the substantially parallel or horizontally extending front strip ineinbers together wi h the rear tace of the connector portion may be Kground, polished and nickel plated. iii desired, while the other Ataces oiE the strips may he tinished in baked enamel or other suitable material o'ii less prominent appeainrce so that the conically bent or folded e fe rounded over at the hulle e Y ve a` striaii'igg appearance to ythis type o.. construction, (tenera y sin'ii-A la;` butler elena having; transversel.y separated strip members fonnecled by integral dia onally folded transverf-ie connector portions Inay ot course be iisod in other parts of the automobile buffers with advantage and butier supporting;` members niay be fornied in this way and connected in any suitable way to the car traine. Bellier Yfronts may be inade up o'l one or more separate lront strips in addition to two adjustal'ily connected elements harina` transversely exinoingr ei l connector portions joined with le transv rsely separated butler front strips it desired, a single strip may have such transverse connector portions at both ends and ina-y have the strip ends welded or otherwise secured together so as to torni, if dell 'il 'ill sired7 an overlapping reenter-cmg portion on the upper or lower iront strip adjacent the butter center between the clamping connecting devices which may be used to connect these front strips to the cooperating supporting members used. Also, it desired, a unitary double height butler .liront may be made up in this way so to be somewhat shorter than the width o'lE the butler laterally across the vehicle, and this double strip front member may be connected in any suitable way to a single height strip butler trent of the Lyon type construction, Ylor instance, so as to 'torni a central impact receiving portion of .increased vertical width .in some cases.

7While of course it is sometimes desiralile to have the butler 'front strips substantially aligned with each other 'rans\.iersely, or vertically at the center oit the butler ont and even adjacent the transve sely entendi fr bent or Jiolded connector pardon integrally joining them. yet for some purposes this folded connection may advantageously be arranged so that the adjacent portions ot the strip members are arranced at an anale to each other; thus instead o; being' vertically or transversely aligned throcehout they may be either; convexly or concavcly curved in cross section or each oppositely inclined and arranged at an angle ot ten to twenty degrees more or less Ytrom the vertical line parallel to the transverse connector portion so as to torm a generally convex or concave arrangement ot the strips, which gives themA additional stiffness and strength where desired. Such constructions mal/ro it possible to form integral rearwardly bent supportingr elements by rearwardly bending' portions ot the oppositely inclined strip members adjacent the two ends ot the bu.PL trout from the diagonally opposite upper and lower strips on the ends so as to 'torni rearwardly extending strips which may be clamped to the sides of the `frame members it desired. Also by bending' these oppositely inclined front strips straight backward on themselves and then forming inturned ends thereon at the desired distance back from the butler front, these inturned ends may be bron J and held together in overlapping position so that they may be clamped or otherwise secured to the t1 A ends or other parts oit the automobile l' members.

ln the accompanying drawing showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way a number ot illustrative embodiments olf this invention Fig. l is a itront view of a butter.

Fig. f2 is a top view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged trffrnsverse section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Figs. land 5 are transverse sections through buffer front constructions.

l t may be inane up of two generally similar elements ornied ot relatively wide thin steel strip. One of these elements may comprise the vertically separated substantially horizontally extending front inem-l bers or strips l. and 5 which may have their outer edges in substantial vertical align- Varent and, desired., these front strips may be oppositely inclinedy throughout all or part oi' their length to give greater stillncss to the butter front element. lt is particularly desirable to have such oppositely inclined stilened front strips in the outer projecting); end ot the butler element beyond the supporting or clampingr device such as 2O and for this reason the strips niav be oppositely inclined in a vertical plane as shown in Fig. 3, this inclined still"- ened arrangement continuingV or increasing". it desired. throughout the outer ends of the strips 4l, 7, which may be joined by Van inteajral connector portion 3 of suitably recuri ed forro so as to hold the front strips or members in this desired vertically separated position. In some cases the connector portion have diagonally or angularly arranged folded or bent edges such as 29. 3l which may be arranged in substantially rectangular position with respect to each other. and this connector may extend on the rearward side ot the front strips so that its longer edge may project back away troni. the strips considerably further than its trout curved edge 30 so that it may present a `generally tunnel shaped connection between the adjacent parts olf' the trout strips or members. The. other front element may comprise generally similar strips 8, lil over lapping' the other tront strips between their ends 9. le and 2, 6. which project somewhat beyond the clamping devices 20. portions l0. l2 of this strip element may be similarly oppositely inclined and may be joined bv transversely extending` connector portion ll having' similarly diagonally bent edrgcs 29, 3l, itdesired.- These butter front strips may be 'formed and bent in any suitable way as by hot bending` processes by which the strips are bent around suitable forms or by die forging methods, and in some cases the strips may have their tront 'faces shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4l `ground and polished and nickel plated with advan- 'lhe outerV taoc and this distinctive finish may also be errtenfilod around the diagonal iiolds 29. El so that the rear lace oit the connector pcrtions 11 is similarly polished and nichel plated, it desired. This a desirable appearance to the butter endl striking Y element, especially where this transverse connection is used at the ends of the initier front. which project out to or beyond the automobile wheels, and the other laces et tl 2 strip element may be nished in baked enamel or other less striking finish to appropriate contrast. .bese two cooperat butler liront elements may be adjustably connected in any suitable Way so that the butler 'trent is of adjustable lateral width across the automobile and two such recessec clamping as 2O may be used tor this purpose, the projecting edges 21. 22 ei;- tending around these front strips which may be clamped in position by the Ciampino: bolt 25 and lock washer 24, the bolt being threaded into the projection or central rib 23 on the clamping device after passing' through the. connecting` portion 19 of a supporting member of any suitable construction. One suitable iillustrative 'form of supporting attaching` member is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, as comprising a laterally extending rear portion or brace bar 15 which may be clamped or secured to the 'traine ends 2S or other parts oi the vehicle. The outwardly bent portions 1G, 17 ot this supporting member 'of spring steel strip or the like may be inturned to `term the conmeeting` portions 18, 19 which are preferablj.7 wider' than theI vertical separation between the front strips, to which they may be adjustably or otherwise clamped in any suitable way. It is of course understood that these butler members and elements may be made ot spring steel strip and heat treated as by being oil quenched at the proper heat and tempered so as to give them in.- creased resilient strength and stiffness under collision conditions. The degree of inclination ot' the opposite-,ly inclined front strips or members may he varied considerably and l? 5 shows an arrangement in which there viront strips are considerably more inclined in a backward direction from their adjacent vertically aligned. edges, this extent oi? opposite inclination giving a correspondingly greater stillness to this part ot the buffer front or other element. ln some cases also these strip members may he in each rase convex, or concave and strip members may have their outer edges bent forward instead of backward, as is shown in ligs. e and 5, in case this `.torni of stille-ning opposite inclination or", the strip desirable tor special purposes.

tluch opposite inclination of the iront strips not only stiilens anl `reni?thens them, but is also useful in forming integral rcernardlj,v bent supporting members which two or lonr may be formed iront strip elements olf 'this general c acter and entend backward preieraliily d ends to be secured tothe autorro- 1* m0. Lltn shows an illustration type oli' construction which the bull lront may comprise two similar elena.A adjustably connect d together to Vforni an aniustable width butler front extends' 75 vond the automobile wheels. One oii th .i butler Vfront elements may comprise the vertically separated front strips connected as shown in ll 7 by the rearwardly extending connector portion 34, which may have the gradually bent or rounded diagronal edges 297 31 so as to form a Ytuniiel shaped or 'flattened conical bend in this end or the strip element. rearwardly bendne' or displacing this connector portion and the adjacent parts of the connected hori/,ontally extending strip members as shown in Fig. r the strip members adjacent this connector may be held in more inclined position which is desirable in some cases. rThe other corresponding liront element may have the horizontally separated strip members 4t2, lo joined by a similar connector portion 14tand clamping devices 50 may adjustably connect the overlapping` 'front strips a strip ends 33, 43 so as to rigidly engage and hold both the upper and lower strips in position within suitable recesses in the connector device1 which may comprise the retaining washer or member 547 and the nl" clamping bolt 55 in each case. @t co1 one or more additional front strips may used to .strengthen and stillen the butler front as by clamping them between these clamping devices o() where addition l strength and stillness is needed. One or both ol.E the horizontally extending strips ofY each ot these iront elements which.

positely inclined adjacent the cl t i vices to about the extent shown in N0 and 6, may be bent baclrwa rd on forni a supporting attaching connection to the automobile aired. theI ends oit these attaching i r W mem ers may be inturned to bring then'z l into substantially aligned overlapping position throughont the distance between the automobile :traine ends if desired. so that a multiple thicln .i brace ba or latcrallv er@ n tending rear suv arting member in l he 1" formed to give strongA support to the lunnper and also riff' lly connect the iframe ng nipjiorting ineinlf-r i? This oi the transversely separated strip members itl/1e strips snbstantiallv into t1 in confnderabli inclined )osition so that il' l l l, ier and their ends may be they to be nought into exact or e l point so as to :torni the ov y ef'tending or brace bar por w ich may verlap throughout e extent between the frame ends or may have limited Y appiingg between the strip ends e0, l may be clamped in t tion bj: the Lyon type enclosin device This inalres this part buii'er laterally adj stable to snit i supporting stap, or members. i front strips nii-ty here iy snitalne and niay in seine cases, where the oit laterai adjustment not great7 be tow wardly arched or cnw-id as shown in 8, or they may be substantially straight between the clamping devices as shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 9 and l0 show another `forno ,ot integral connection which niay be iis-ed between these vertically seperated buffer stri ps or Ineinbers of bntl'er iront or other e' einents, The transversely or vertically separated strip members 60 66 may be joined by the integral recnrved connector portion G7, which may be gradually bent around bctween the angularly arranged bent edges 652', 64. By bending this connector jilortion ot the bntl'er and. the adjacent parts ot these strip ineinbers 615 G5 rearward ont et line with the inner parts 60, 66 ot the strips., the connection inay be more readily formed and this rearward bend or displacement ina-yf, as shown in Fig. 10, carry the trlnsverse end 63 ot the connector portion back through nearly ninety degrees in .seine cases. 'lll-.iis `rives a generally conical or 'tunnel shaped bent connector portion in which the inner Yfront engi a oi" the strips :ire consii'leraliily closer topether than their rear. outer edges :it the berid and this also gives the adjacent portions the transversely separated strip members a considerable degree ot opposite inclination which gradually decreases so that7 it desired, the relatively straight iti-ont strips or nicrobers (lo, 36 may be in sub-- stanti-al 'transverse or vertici/il alnjnnent with each other. Another torni olf recurved connector portion ot such butter liront or other elei'nents is shown in Fins. 'l1 and 'l2 as comprising' a more nearly conical bent end 69 which may be bent or displaced backY ward to a considerable extent? such as thirty or itortjf' degrees niore or less. The inner or adjacent iti-ont edi/res o'i'i this recnrved connector portion are considerably less separated and have a less radins ot curvature than the rear edges 72 and this more or less conical bend holds the adjacent parts 68,

bent connector portion sliolfn 1r A n il n n .e NA:ne and ,i2 not onl'f has a neat degree :n stin.'

ness and ,stre Oth which maires it desirable ttor many perin imiter constrnetions but also el" p asino' and striking` appearA ance., especially o'lien'tlie forward and enter .tace of the strip member around the outside of' the strip en polished and nickel noted or otlie. .Y proniincntlj.v liinsheda as compared to the other surfaces o? the sei itieinber or element. .may be used in butter fronts or other portions o bniicrs 'tor a `.to1nobi.les and the like and in sonic cases a buffer Li'ront element having transversely or vertically separated strip members may have t vo generally similar recnrved connector portions of the ltig. 9 or il. typen tor instance, at its opposite ends so as to iorin a single butter cnt which may be used in connection with cooperating snpporting;r attaching; de vvices or in connection with a snbstantiall;l complete single height lnitlier to forni a buffer tront of multiple strip or increased wirt-ical width construction.

Vlhis invention has been described in connection with a nnrnber of embodiments, liornis, proportions, sizes7 parts, arrange niente, inate'als, niethods of construction, connection and use1 to the drt: hls oit which disclosure the invention is ot course to be lii'i'iiteih since what is cla as new and what is des ed to be secnrM oy Letters Patent is set itorth in the appended claims:

l. The aot-onioliile buffer comprising n pair o? mijnstab r connected trent elements ilorined oit wide thin steel strip Lind eachv having; vertically displaced enbs'iantially horizontally extendin liront portions and an integral transversely extending connector portion at the end of the element comprisinga a recnrving; somewhat conical bend and acent rearwardly bent parts ot said horizontally extending,r front portions which are oppositely inclined to cach other, and integral siipporting` inei'nbers torined by rearwardly bent portions ot said oppositely inclined portions oli the diagonally opposite npper and lower strips adjacent the ends 0l the bn'ler front to bring them into sub stantial lat-eral alignment and laterally extending intnrned ends on said supporting;

' llheso butler elementsr members held together in overlapping position and adapted to be secured to the antomobile trame members.

2. The automobile buffer comprising adjustably connected iront elements formed orn steel strip and each having vertically displaced substantially horizontally extending front portions and an integral transversely extending connector portion at the end of the element comprisin a recurving bend and adjacent parts ot d horizontally extending front portions which are oppositely inclined to each other, and integral supporting members formed by rearwardly benl portions or' said oppositely inclined portions of the diagonally opposite upper and lower strips adjacent the ends ot' the buffer front to bring them into substantial lateral alignment and laterally extending inturned ends on said supporting` members adapted to be secured to the automobile trame members.

3. The automobile butler comprising front elements formed of steel strip and each having vertically displaced substantially horizontally extending front portions and an integral transversely extending recurved connector portion and adjacent oppositely inclined rearwardly bent parts of said front portions, and integral supporting members formed by rearwardly bent portions of said oppositely inclined portions of said front strips adjacent the opposite ends of the bufler front to bring them into substantial lateral alignment and laterally extending inturned ends on said supporting` members adapted to be secured to the automobile trame members.

4l. rlhe automobile butler comprising front elements formed of steel strip and having vertically displaced front portions and an integral transversely extending recurved connectorI portion and adjacent oppositely inclined parts oit' said front portions, and in tegral supporting members formed by rearwardly bent portions of said oppositely inclined portions of said front strips adjacent the opposite ends of the buier front and laterally extending inturned ends on said supporting members adapted to be secured to the automobile frame members.

The automobile butler comprising` front elements termed of steel strip and having vertically displaced tront portions and an integral transversely extending recnrved connector portion and adjacent oppositely inclined parts o'l' said front portions, and integral supporting members formed by rearwardly bent portions or' said oppositely inclined portions of said 'front strips adapted to be secured to the automobile frame members.

6. The automobile butler comprisng a pair of adjustably connected front elements formed of wide thin steel strip and each having vertically displaced substantially horizontallyY extending iront portions and an inte` .al transversely extending connector portion at the end oit the element comprising a recurving somewhat conical bend and adjacent rearwardly bent oppositely inclined parts of said trent portions, and cooperating buli'er supporting members.

.7. The automobile bulier comprising connected :lfront elements 'formed of steel strip and each. having vertically displaced substantially horizontally extending front portions and an integral connector portion at the end or the element comprising a recurving bend and adjacent rearwardly bent oppositely inclined parts of said front portions and cooperating` buffer supporting members.

S. rlhe automobile buli'er comprising connected front elements iormed of steel strip and each having vertically displaced front portions and an integral connector portion at the end oit the element and adjacent oppositely inclined parts of said front portions.

9. The automobile buffer front formed of wide thin steel strip and having vertically displaced substantially horizontally extending liront portions and an integral transversely extending connector portion at the ends of the bull'er iti-ont and adjacent rearwardly bent oppositely inclined parts of said horizontally extending liront portions.

i0. The automobile butler front formed of steel strip and having vertically displaced tront portions and an integral connector portion at the ends of the buffer front and adjacent oppositely inclined parts of said horizontally extending front portions.

ll. The automobile butler front comprising two adjnstably connected similar elements formed oit wide thin steel strip and having vertically displaced horizontally extending 'lront members having a transversely extending integral connector portion bent to hold the adjacent rearwardly bent horizontal portions ot said members at oppositely inclined vertical angles with each other adjacent said transverse portion and gradually approaching vertical alignment at points further trom said transverse connector portion.

l2. 'lhe automobile briller 'front comprising two elements formed oiv wide steel strip and having vertically displaced horizontally extending liront members having a transversely extending integral connector portion bent to hold the adjacent horizontal portions ot said members at oppositely inclined vertical angles with each other adjacent said transverse portion.

18. The ai'itomobile butler front comprising two adjustably connected elements :termed ot wide thin steel strip and each having vertically displaced horizontally eX- tendineliront members having their extreme upper `and lower edges in substantial vertical' alignment with each other and having a recurved integral connector portion bent to hold the adjacent rearwardly bent horizontal portions oi' said members at oppositely inclined vertical angles with each other.

lll. llhe automobile bilder front comprisin` connected elements formed of relatively wide steel strip and eachhaving vertically displaced liront members having a recurved integral connectorportion bent to hold the adjacent rearwardly bent horizontal portions of said members at oppositely inclined vertical angles with each other'.

l5. The automobile buii'er front element formed @t relatively wide steel strip and having vertically displaced horizontally eX- tending vfront members having,` portions in substantial vertical alignment with each other land having a recurved integral connector portion bent to hold the adjacent rearwardly bent horizontal portions of said members at opposing 'vertical angles with each other while `gradually approaching' vertical alignment at inner points.

i6. The automobile butler trent element formed oinA relatively wide steel strip and having vertically displaced front members having a recurved integral connector portion bent to hold the adjacent portions ot said members at opposing,` vertical angles with each other.

l?. The automobile butter lront element termed ot widethin steel strip and having vertically displaced horizontally extending` trenty members having` their eXtreme upper and lower edges in substantial vertical alignment with each other and having` a recurved integral connector portion somewhat conically bent to hold the adjacent horizontal portions oil said members at oppositely inclined vertical angles with each other.

The automobile butter i.trent element termed. et wide lthin steel strip and having tically displaced iront members having curved integral connector portion somei conicallj7 bent to hold the adjacent portions of said members at oppositely ini ined vertical angles with each other.

19. Tl automobile butter element torined oi" wide thin steel strip and having1 transversely displaced tront members having; their extreme upper and lower edges in substantial transverse alignment with each other and having; a transversely eX- tending` integral connector Liortion bent to hold the adjacent rearwardly bent portions ot said front members at oppositely inclined transverse angles with each other.

20. The automobile butler element Yformed ot wide thin steel strip and having transversely displaced members having` an integral connector portion bent to hold the adjacent portions of said members at oppositely inclined transverse angles with each other.

2l. The automobile butter liront element termed ot wide thin steel strip and having vertically displaced horizontally extending portions and an integral connectorfportion oit the strip comprising` a conically bent rearwardly curved displaced portion at the end of the element holding' the adjacent vertically displaced portions in oppositely inclined angular position, said vertically displaced portions being oppositely twisted adjacent said connector portion to bring them into substantially `vertically aligned position with respect to each other.

22. The automobile butler 'front element :termed of relatively wide steel strip and having vertically displaced portions and an ii'itepgral connector portion of the strip comprising a conically bent rearwardly dis placed portion at the end oi the element holding the adjacent vertically displaced portions in oppositely inclined angular position, said vertically displaced portions being` oppositcly twisted adjacent said connector portion.

23. The automobile butler element formed ot wide steel strip and having' vertically displaced portions and an integral connector portion ot the strip comprising a somewhat conically bent rearwardly displaced jlortion at the end oli the element holding tl'ie'adjacent vertically displaced portions in opjiiositely inclined angular position, said vertically displaced portions being oppositely twisted adjacent said connector portion to bring them into more nearly ver^ tically aligned position with respect to each other.

2li. The automobile butter element formed ot wide steel strip and having vertically displaced portions and an integral co`nnecn tor portion et the strip comjnising a somewhat conically bent portion at the end ot the element holding' the adjacent vertically CisolacerL portions in oppositely inclined ifular position, said vertically displaced portions being oppositely twisted;

25. The automobile butler trout element l ot wide thin steel strip and havingr vertrally displaced horizontally extendingiront members having' their extreme upper and lower edges in substantial vertical alignment with each other and having an integral substantially tunnel shaped somewhat conical connector pertion bent to hold the adjacent rearwardly bent horizontal portions ot said members at oppositely inclined vertical angles with each other.

26. The automobile butter tront element .termed ot wide thin steel. strip and having vertically displaced iront members having an. integral somewhat conical connector portion bent to hold the adjacent portions of said members at oppositely inclined vertical angles with each other.

Qi. .The automobile bull'er element termed of wide thin steel strip having transversely displaced iront portions and an integral transversely extending connector portion at the end ot the element comprising a tunnelsliaped somewhat conical bend and acent rearwardly bent parts ot said trent portions which are oppositely incliiV to each other. 28. The automobile boiler element i'orined oit wide thin steel st ip having' transversely displaced portions and an integral tra-nsversely extending connector portion at the end of the element comprising a somewhat conical bend and adjacent parts of said portions which are oppositely inclined to each other,

29. rlhe automobile biiil'er liront eleineiit formed of wide thin steel strip having vertically displaced front portions and an integral somewhat conical connector portion extending rearward from the plane of said iront portions, said connector portion having its inner front edges vertically separated to a considerably less extent than the Corresponding rear edges ot said connector poi'- tion and said front portions being oppositcly inclined adjacent said connector portion.

2:30. rEhe automobile bniier iront element torined ot wide thin steel strip having vertically displaced iront portions and an iiitegral connector portion, said connector portion having its inner1 front edges vertically separated to a less extent than tlie corresponding rear edges of said connector por-- tion and said liront portions being oppositely inclined adjacent said connector portion.

-ll. The automobile butler element formed oi" wide steel strip having horizontally extending' members provided with vertically displaced portions and an integral lil-shaped bent connector portion extending rearward troni the plane olf said horizontally extending portions ot said ineinbcrs, said connector portion having its inner trent edges vertically Ceparated to a considerably less eX- tent than the corresponding` rear edges of said connector portion.

232. The automobile butler element termed o wide steel strip having .horizontally extending incinbers provided with vertically displaced portions and an integral reciirved connector portion extending rearward 'troni the -ilano ot said horizontally extending `ioitioiis ot said n'ieinbers,y said connector portion having' its inner ti'ont edges verfally separated to a considerably less ext it than the corresponding rear edges ot said connector portion.

51,13. The automobile bulier front element formed ot wide thin steel strip having vertically displaced front portions and an integral recurved somewhat conical connector o i i ententthan es of said conneci eiy wide tliin steel strip lia-ving vertically displaced substantially orisontally extending trent portions and VraT versely ertendlng connector portion at flic end of the elenient comprising a tunnelsliaped somewhat conical bend and adjacent rearwardly bent parts ot said horizontally ending portions which are oppositely inned to each other, said front portions gradually coming' into vertical alignment t points iinrtlier reinoved Ytroni said connector portion.

36. rlhe automobile butler front element termed oil relatively wide steel strip having vertically displaced substantially horizontaVy extending front portions and a trans- 'seiy extending connector portion at the l ol the element comprising a somewhat conical bend and adjacent rearwardly bent parte ol said l'iorizontally extending' portions which are oppositely inclined to each other, said iront portions coming into vertical alignment at points further removed from said connector portion.

lie buffer element i'fornied of relatively wide steel strip having` transversely displaced body portions and an integral transversely extending connector portion at the end it the element comprising a tunnelsliaped bend and adjacent rearwardly bent of said body portions which are Oppositely inclined to each other, said body portions coming into transverse alignment at points further removed from said connector porton.

38. The bnil'er element ornied of relatively wide steel strip having transversely displaced body portions and an integral conne'rtor portion th end ot the element comprising a reciirved bend and adjacent rearwardly bent parts of said body portions which a c opposilely inclined to each other, said body portions ccf ire' into transverse alin'iin'ient at points i tYI ner removed from said connector portion, said connector portion having its inner 'front edges transversely separated to a considerably less extent than the corresponding rear edges of said connector portion.

ALBERT LYON. 

